[Ironically that was the sort of thing Marco wanted to know about from Japan so that he'd have some motivation for himself to stop feeling this way.]

Big damn hero. [Possibly the only time ever anyone will hear Marco say something remotely negative about Ace.] I'd rather have my best friend back. Why couldn't I... [Shoulders rise and fall and he starts crying. Was he just useless to protect them? To stop them from being sent back? He couldn't accept it. It was too low of a standard and Marco demanded better of himself. He had to, so he would. That was how it was.] I was really glad he was here. [Was that too selfish? Almost demanding Ace live out a life that even Ace was unsure about. Just so Marco could play like they had more time. Pretend to make up for a mistake he could never repair, couldn't even regret, and even if he had to do it all over, wouldn't be able to change a thing.]

I'm sorry. [Mumbles childishly and hides in a wing.] I am stronger than all this. [That he says with a final sense certainty. He knows he is.] And I have no regrets.